I'm not sure I have anything much to say about Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice; but then I'm not sure the film has much to say about them either. It does though have a lot to show you about them but it doesn't really want to pass comment. With era-defining satires you generally expect some kind of value judgement to be delivered but Mazursky's debut is very opened minded about these two affluent Los Angeles couples who want to dabble in the sexual freedoms allowed them by the sixties. Their attitudes and affectations are mildly ribbed, but the film doesn't have any great issue with them.

The film opens with Bob (Culp) a documentary filmmaker taking his wife Carol (Wood) to a spiritual retreat in the desert. He goes for research but the pair comes back converted. They try to share their revelation with best friends Ted (Gould) and Alice (Cannon) but they are initially sceptical and even a little repulsed by their new found openness, where they will admit to affairs. Gradually though they come to understand it a little more.

Largely as a result of this film Mazursky managed to accrue and a reputation as a major filmmaker, one he was able to keep for at least two decades. I'm not sure though how much truck posterity will have with his body of work. He seemed to have the gift for tapping into the zeitgeist and appearing to be on top of popular culture. He talked a good game and B&C&T&A includes quite a few lengthy dialogue scenes. A conversation between T&A after a night out at B&C's goes on for around a quarter of an hour. It needs the length to get across Ted's mounting sexual frustration, and it works well enough but you are very aware of how the movie has come to a halt for this.

The movie is dated but not fatally so. Today, when we are more aware of the selfish and destructive side of the swinging sixties, it's nice to have something that shows the innocence and good intentions that were behind it. Plus it preserves some great performers. Culp is perhaps a little too in tune with his character. Wood is luminous, an effortless star. Cannon is initially annoying but you warm to her. Best of all is Gould, in his breakthrough role, displaying that incredible laidback, yet perversely intense charm. He gets most of the biggest laughs.

Extras.

New restoration from original film elements by Sony PicturesHigh Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentationUncompressed Mono 1.0 PCM audio soundtrackOptional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearingAudio commentary by director/co-writer Paul Mazursky, actors Robert Culp, Elliott Gould, and Dyan CannonNew Audio commentary by the film scholar Adrian MartinBob & Natalie & Elliot & Dyan... & Paul, a new video essay exploring the film’s themes by filmmaker and critic David CairnsTales of Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, an archival interview with Paul Mazursky revisiting the film’s production and releaseReversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Matthew GriffinFirst pressing only: Illustrated collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by author Michael Atkinson and original reviews